Abstract

The IAU Working Group on Communicating Astronomy with the Public (WGCAP), a Division XII Working Group, was created in 2004 following an early October 2003 conference, "Communicating Astronomy to the Public," held at the Uni ted States National Academy of Sciences in Washington, DC, The Working Group's Mission Statement is as follows. (l) To encourage and enable a much larger fraction of the astronomical community to take an active role in explaining what we do (and why) to our fellow citizens. (2) To act as an international, impartial coordinating entity that furthers the recognition of outreach and public communication on all levels in astronomy. (3) To encourage
international collaborations on outreach and public communication. (4) To endorse standards, best practices, and requirements for public communication. The Status Report reports on the achievements and progress made since the working group's formation and presents the group's plans for the next three years.